Golf

Mistake drops Els into tie for first

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Ernie Els took a chance on the 18th hole, and it cost him sole possession of the lead midway through the Dubai Desert Classic.

Els' second shot on the par-5, 547-yard hole found water short of the green. He bogeyed and finished at 4-under 68 in Friday's second round that left him in a four-way tie for the lead.

"I took a bit of a chance on the 18th, and it didn't work out," Els said. "The only bad shot I hit on the back nine was on the 18th, and I didn't quite get the 4-iron. But I hit the ball really nicely, almost better than yesterday. But it didn't quite go my way scoring-wise."

Els, the defending champion and winner of four of the five events he has played this season, had five birdies to move to 134. Mikko Ilonen (67), David Lynn (66) and first-round leader Alastair Forsyth (69) shared the lead.

Els' bogey was his first of the tournament.

"If I had pulled it off, I would have been 3 up. I had gone 35 holes without a bogey, and I played as good as I could."

Thomas Bjorn, who beat Tiger Woods to win this event in 2001, shot 66 and moved within a shot of the lead. Ian Woosnam was also at 9 under after 66, including an eagle at No. 13.

Ian Garbutt had nine birdies and shot 9-under 63 to move into a four-way tie for seventh at 136.

Woods withdrew from the tournament this week, citing concerns about safety in the region. Former champion Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo also pulled out.

MASTERCARD CLASSIC: Allen Doyle shot 7-under 65 for a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Champions Tour event in Mexico City.

Doyle had an eagle and six birdies on the 7,111-yard, par-72 Bosque Real Country Club course.

"All in all, I had a very good day today," said Doyle, whose best finish this season is sixth at the Royal Caribbean Classic. "I am pleased. The leader is under great pressure. You get everyone trying to catch you."

Defending champion Bruce Lietzke had seven birdies and two bogeys in a round of 67, and was tied for second with Eamonn Darcy.

Bruce Fleisher, who two weeks ago won the Verizon Classic in Lutz for his 16th senior title, shot 68 and was in a four-way tie for fourth with Seiji Ebihara, Isao Aoki and Jerry McGee. Hale Irwin shot 70.

CLEARWATER (N.Z.) CLASSIC: Ryan Palmer set the course record at 9-under 63 to take a four-stroke lead in the Nationwide Tour event in Christchurch, New Zealand. Palmer had a 12-under 132 total on the Clearwater Resort course.

The co-leaders after the first round, Joe Ogilvie, Jeff Freeman and Craig Carmichael, each shot 73 and were eight shots behind Palmer.

BRITISH OPEN: The course at this summer's tournament at Royal St. George in Sandwich, England, will be longer, a decision made with Woods and other long hitters in mind.

The course for the July 17-20 event will be 246 yards longer than it was 10 years ago, when the event was last played in Sandwich. The changes, made last year and early this year, bring the length to 7,106 yards.

The par also has been increased from 70 to 71, with the 497-yard No. 4 hole changed from a par-4 to a par-5.

New tees have been built at Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The green at No. 14 has been moved back 43 yards.

"It's going to be a bit like the 2000 Open at St. Andrews," said Rhodri Price of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. "When Tiger won there, he barely took his driver out. It was a case of him taking irons off the tees to avoid bunkers. It's going to be a big test for all the golfers to avoid bunkers this year."

MASTERS: Augusta-Richmond (Ga.) County officials met to discuss Martha Burk's request to protest at the tournament but won't make a decision until next week. Burk, lead critic of Augusta National Golf Club's all-male membership, wants permission for a group to protest April12 during the third round.

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